Important reform movement

I learned the reform movements were to improve the morals and living/ working conditions of Americans. I think the sanitation and labor conditions were the most important because they both endangered the health of Americans. The sanitation of cities was practically nonexistent before the reform. Disease and illness swept through city after city as sewage and garbage piled up in the streets. Thanks to the reform a sewage system was installed and other organised methods of waste disposal. The poor ventilation, cramped quarters, dangerous machinery and long hours were the plagues of the factories. The poor ventilation and limited exits made entire factories fire hazards as well as electrical machinery which cost many employees more than a finger or a toe while long hours for little pay exhausted workers. After reforms, a minimum number of vents and out swinging exits were setup and workers had limited work weeks. Both of these reforms saved many lives.

Puerto-Rico(1)

Puerto Rico's relationship to the U.S. was very similar to that of a colony or protectorate because of our claim on it through the Treaty of Paris. Though many Amricans questioned the descision of the U.S.'s interference, the U.S. tried to control Puerto Rico's affairs to maintain a presence in the Caribbean and be near where we planned to build a canal through Panama. A law/policy that affected its relationship with the U.S. was the instillation of a civil government. Under the Foraker Act, the U.S. appointed Puerto Rico's Governor and upper house. Puerto Rico Became an important territory following the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War

1. The consequences of the war for Spain and the United States were that Spain gave the U.S. Cuba,Guam, and the for $20 million the Philippines.
2. The Treaty of Paris caused such debate among Americans because the American people were unsure if it was our right too annex the Philippines because of the Declaration of Independence's law of self-government of newly acquired territories. Also, that our problems with racism and competition for jobs made the new citizens an unwelcome bunch.